growers reduced pesticide application (dosage 

 equivalents) by approximately 40% in both 1988 and 

 1989 as compared to 1987 baseline practices. In 

 1990, non-IPM spray practices were re-examined by 

 locating non-IPM growers and pairing them with co- 

 operating growers by location. Spray records were 

 obtained for comparison and harvest surveys were 

 conducted to compare yield and quality of IPM and 

 non-IPM growers for 1990. Harvest surveys were 

 conducted at non-IPM sites within 24 hours of sur- 

 veys at cooperating growers to standardize field con- 

 ditions. Beds of comparable age and cultivars were 

 selected for comparison. 



Results show that pesticide applications (in 

 dosage equivalents) were approximately 31% lower 

 among cooperating growers than for fields under 

 conventional (non-IPM) management in 1990 (Table 

 2). Harvest surveys indicate no significant differ- 

 ence in yield or quality between IPM and non-IPM 

 growers surveyed. 



Conclusion 



We realize that we are not covering all the 

 problems faced by strawberry growers. However, 

 the IPM program has provided the impetus and 

 some funds to start research in other areas. We are 

 particularly concerned with finding alternatives to 

 soil fumigation, management techniques for black 

 root rot, alternatives to fungicides used on Botrytis, 

 and a program for weed management. We would like 

 to acknowledge the support given us by the Massa- 



chusetts IPM program, the Low-Input Sustainable 

 Agriculture program of the USDA, the Massachu- 

 setts Biological Control program, the North Ameri- 

 can Strawberry Growers, and especially Nourse 

 Farms, Inc., without whom this work would have 

 been impossible. 



References 



Braun, P. G. and J. C. Sutton. 1987. Inoculum 

 sources of Botrytis cinerea in fruit rot of strawberries 

 in Ontario. Can. J. Plant Path. 91:1-5. 



Croft, B. A and S. C. Hoyt, eds. 1983. Integrated 

 Management of Insect Pests of Pome and Stone 

 Fruits. John Wiley & Sons, NY. 



Gould, H. J. 1973. Laboratory and field investiga- 

 tions with organophophorus resistant Tetranychus 

 urticae on strawberries. Ann. Appl. Biol. 74:17-23. 



Oatman, E. R., J. A. Wyman, H. W. Browning, and 

 V. Voth. 1981. Effects of releases and varying 

 infestation levels of the two-spotted spider mite on 

 strawberry yield in southern California. J. Econ. 

 Entomol. 74:112-115. 



Schaefers, G. A. 1980. Yield effects of tarnished 

 plant bug on June-bearing strawberry varieties in 

 New York State. J. Econ. Entomol. 73:721-725. 



Sutton, J. C. and P. G. Braun. 1987. New methods 

 for controlling grey mold fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea) 

 in strawberries. Proc. Ontario Hort. Crop Conf. 



Fruit Notes, Spring, 1991 



